When we last left our merry band of apostles they were all down at Cornelius' villa on the Mediterranean enjoying a pig roast and potluck and eating all kinds of things they'd never thought of eating before. Since then there have been some big changes. Peter is now out of the picture and the focus is increasingly on Paul (formerly known as Saul). We join them now on Cyprus, at yet another Roman villa, this one owned by the proconsul Sergius Paulus.
Now Sergius is an actual historical figure but when I tried to Google him to verify what the pastor said about him, I didn't get very far. None of the sites that turned up mentioned Josephus or other contemporary Roman historians; but I did find reference to a Bible commentary published around 1880, which makes me suspect that what we know about the man may be conjecture. A couple of stones have been found that have his name on them, if it is the same Sergius. Which is a shame because, as with Cornelius, Sergius Paulus would have an "insider's" take on things, but Luke chooses not to follow up on this lead.
Sergius Paulus is described as being an "intelligent" man which is a rather unusual description as I can't think of it being used elsewhere in the Bible. At least that is the word used in the more recent translations of the Bible; the King James Version says that he was a "prudent" man. I don't know Greek so I don't know who is right. But based on what happens next, I'd put my bet on prudent. This is a man who knows what side his bread is buttered on.
Paul is talking to Sergius, trying to get him to convert to Christianity. But there is an annoying guest named Bar Jesus who is something of a magician. Now you mustn't think that Bar Jesus is the kind of magician who pulls rabbits out of hats and that sort of thing. Oh no. Apparently this dude can do much bigger things than that. Interestingly enough, Bar Jesus means Son of Jesus, which must have caused a lot of whispering in the synagogue when Paul started talking. "You mean that Jesus whose son is the magician?" "No, I think he's talking about another Jesus." "Be quiet, we can't hear what he's saying!"
Anyway, Bar Jesus is saying stuff that is annoying Paul. What it is Luke doesn't say, but Paul doesn't like it. He finally loses his temper and calls Bar Jesus a fraud and furthermore from this moment he will be blind. Wow! I am sure glad that today's preachers don't have that kind of power. And Sergius, obviously impressed, converts on the spot. (Maybe he didn't want to be blinded too). According to tradition, he ends up having to resign his post because his duties involved presiding over pagan rites, which is another good argument for the separation of church and state.
As I was Googling Sergius Paulus, the thought came to me that right here in my hands I hold a magic box with powers Bar Jesus could only dream of. And that is only one thing. I have another magic box that can cook a meal in seconds. When it is dark I can flip a switch, and there is light. Outside I have a magic vehicle that can take me places faster than a horse can run. I have ridden in another magic vehicle high above the clouds. Bar Jesus could do none of those things. None. We of course don't call it magic, we call it technology. But what did Arthur G. Clarke say about magic and technology?
I find it interesting and amusing that fictional Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter series is lighted with candles (magic candles, yes, but candles nonetheless) yet has modern plumbing. You mean they couldn't come up with a spell for bodily functions? Come to think of it, almost any story that features witches and wizards has them using technology that has long since become obsolete. And yet there are people who are seriously threatened by this sort of thing. All I can say is hang on to your hats, there are things in the pipeline that will blow you away. Things that sound like science fiction but are happening now. That is the REAL magic!
Now Sergius is an actual historical figure but when I tried to Google him to verify what the pastor said about him, I didn't get very far. None of the sites that turned up mentioned Josephus or other contemporary Roman historians; but I did find reference to a Bible commentary published around 1880, which makes me suspect that what we know about the man may be conjecture. A couple of stones have been found that have his name on them, if it is the same Sergius. Which is a shame because, as with Cornelius, Sergius Paulus would have an "insider's" take on things, but Luke chooses not to follow up on this lead.
Sergius Paulus is described as being an "intelligent" man which is a rather unusual description as I can't think of it being used elsewhere in the Bible. At least that is the word used in the more recent translations of the Bible; the King James Version says that he was a "prudent" man. I don't know Greek so I don't know who is right. But based on what happens next, I'd put my bet on prudent. This is a man who knows what side his bread is buttered on.
Paul is talking to Sergius, trying to get him to convert to Christianity. But there is an annoying guest named Bar Jesus who is something of a magician. Now you mustn't think that Bar Jesus is the kind of magician who pulls rabbits out of hats and that sort of thing. Oh no. Apparently this dude can do much bigger things than that. Interestingly enough, Bar Jesus means Son of Jesus, which must have caused a lot of whispering in the synagogue when Paul started talking. "You mean that Jesus whose son is the magician?" "No, I think he's talking about another Jesus." "Be quiet, we can't hear what he's saying!"
Anyway, Bar Jesus is saying stuff that is annoying Paul. What it is Luke doesn't say, but Paul doesn't like it. He finally loses his temper and calls Bar Jesus a fraud and furthermore from this moment he will be blind. Wow! I am sure glad that today's preachers don't have that kind of power. And Sergius, obviously impressed, converts on the spot. (Maybe he didn't want to be blinded too). According to tradition, he ends up having to resign his post because his duties involved presiding over pagan rites, which is another good argument for the separation of church and state.
As I was Googling Sergius Paulus, the thought came to me that right here in my hands I hold a magic box with powers Bar Jesus could only dream of. And that is only one thing. I have another magic box that can cook a meal in seconds. When it is dark I can flip a switch, and there is light. Outside I have a magic vehicle that can take me places faster than a horse can run. I have ridden in another magic vehicle high above the clouds. Bar Jesus could do none of those things. None. We of course don't call it magic, we call it technology. But what did Arthur G. Clarke say about magic and technology?
I find it interesting and amusing that fictional Hogwarts Castle in the Harry Potter series is lighted with candles (magic candles, yes, but candles nonetheless) yet has modern plumbing. You mean they couldn't come up with a spell for bodily functions? Come to think of it, almost any story that features witches and wizards has them using technology that has long since become obsolete. And yet there are people who are seriously threatened by this sort of thing. All I can say is hang on to your hats, there are things in the pipeline that will blow you away. Things that sound like science fiction but are happening now. That is the REAL magic!
